Improvement in fire-dampers for windows



J. BARW I CK.

Fire-Dampers for Windows.

Patented lung 17, 1873.

F I I l [Illl L/ I y I INVENTOR.

WITNESSES.

4M PHOTU-L/THDERAPHIC (:0 Mr (owe/arm's PROCESS) MOSES J. BARWIOK, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN FIRE-DAMPERS FOR WINDOWS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 139,999, dated June 17, 1873; application filed January 24, 1873.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Mosns J. BARWICK, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Fire-Dampers for Burning Buildings, of which the following is a specification: p

This invention belongs to that class of improvements that is used for the prevention of the spreading of fire in burning buildings; and consists in an adjustable shutter or damper so constructed as to be capable of being applied to "the openings, such as doors or windows, in buildings, in such a manner as to stop or prevent the circulation of air required to sustain combustion; and the object of such invention is to check or effectually prevent the outflow of the flame from the burning interior of a building, and thereby to confine the injury to the edifice or structure on fire, and thus prevent the spread of the flames to other points not accessible to danger except through the openings in the burning structure.

Figure 1 represents a plan of the fire-damper as seen from the outside. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the center of the damper, and shows in outline a window to which it is applied.

The theory of this invention is based upon the fact that to establish a proper circulation for combustion in a chamber, there must be a place for egress as well as ingress of currents of air, and consequently if a sufficient number of the openings, as Windows or doors, in a building be closed to check the egress of the flame, the ingress of the air-currents will be prevented, and combustion will soon cease.

To this end an adjustable damper is pro vided, as shown at A A, the two parts being formed of sheets or plates of metal or other non-combustible substance, and so shaped as to slide to and fro upon each other by guides, as shown at B, or by pins working in slots through one of the sheets or plates or other similar manner. These two sheets or plates are of such a width as to singly, or nearly so, fill the space between the uprights of an ordinary opening as a door or window, but when slid out to their greatest extent to nearly fill or cover twice such space. To this end a rack and pinion, as at O and D, are provided, the rack being attached to one of the plates and the pinion to the other, and arranged to engage with each other, so that the rotation of the pinion D by the crank E on its axis will move the plates apart or slide them together as the case may be. Upon the right and left extreme edges of said damper are pins or projections, as at F, which will engage with the wood-work facing the sides of said openings or other substance forming the walls thereof, so that when the two plates are placed in position over the upper portion of said opening and forced apart by crankand pinion, said pins will be driven into the walls or facing-s on the opposite sides to such a degree as to hold the damper firmly upon or over said opening, and thereby prevent the egress of the flames from the top thereof, and thereby effectually prevent the circulation of air to sustain further combustion. A space is also left at the bottom underneath the shield through which the hose may project water at the will of the fireman. As a further means of conducing to its effect as a damper,-the plates are caused to stand out at the bottom by having their right and left edges inclined from the top toward the wall or face of the building, so that the damper-plates stand out at the bottom, as seen at Fig. 2, and thereby form a kind of guide for the cold air to counterbalance the outward rush of the flames. The plates are held apart by a pawl of any convenient construction, as at S, and the damper is placed in position by the firemen ascending ladders placed on each side of the opening to be covered, and carrying the damper by the handles, as at H and I, who fix it in position, and then fasten it by operating the crank E.

It is evident that the plates may be length- .ened by similar sliding plates to those made to slide laterally, and it is also evident that a slide may be arranged to shut off the inward currents of air under the bottomsof the plates A A, as shown at K; but these devices are not always essential.

I claim A A, with a rack and pinion, or their equivalent, and pins to hold the plates in position, as described, for the purpose set forth.

3. The adjustable damper-plates, in combination with a valve or slide at the bottom thereof, as described, and for the purposes set forth.

MOSES JAMES BARWIOK.

Witnesses;

BOYD ELIOT, ALBERT H. NORRIS. 

